Smoke Signals Apache District e-Newsletter

TOP CLOUDS: 2-1-15

Please don’t keep us a secret.

With all the new parents coming into our scouting family, please don’t keep Smoke Signals, and the Apache District Webpage a secret.We welcome new subscribers and it is easy to do.Also please share our Apache District Website.

New Journey to Excellence / Good Turn for America Service Hours

Thank you very much for all your help with Scouting For Food.

While we are in between bag distribution and food collection days, don’t forget to start thinking about collecting your Journey to Excellence/Good Turn for America service hours. Details can be found on page 17 of your 2015 Scouting For Food Leaders Guide.

Monday, February 16 is Presidents Day. It is a day when we honor our Presidents, especially George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. Take a moment and talk to your scouts and children about the importance of these men and what they did for our nation.
Remind them that Presidents Day is more than a school holiday or a reason for a store sale.

New Mecklenburg Historical Society email newsletter

Are you interested in learning about events dealing with the history
of Mecklenburg County and the surrounding area? Sign up for The History List. It is a free service of the Mecklenburg Historical Association http://www.meckdec.org/ by adding your email address to this list you will receive an email each Friday telling of upcoming events of interest to the history community plus PDF versions of the MHA and MHA Docents newsletters as soon as they come out.
To join, send an email to MHADandelion@mindspring.com with the subject line “Add my name to The History List” and your full name in the body of the note. If or when you want to be off the History List, reply to one of the mailings with “Remove” in the subject line.

The Charlotte Woodcarvers Club is promoting the 32nd SHOWCASE OF WOODCARVINGS on February 20th – 22nd, 2015, at the Marion Diehl Recreation Center on Tyvola Road. For more information, see http://charlottewoodcarvers.com/

Urgent need for potential Eagle Projects

President James K. Polk Historic Site

With the renovation of the museum completed, now is a great opportunity to complete an Eagle Project at the birthplace of the 11th President of the United States. There are several projects that need to be done. For further details, please contact Robert Dreher(704) 889-7145. The site is located at

12031 Lancaster Hwy, Pineville, NC 28134.

Hemby Center-Siskey YMCA

The Siskey YMCA’s Hemby Program Center, located off Kuykendahl Road in south Charlotte has an urgent need to have Eagle Projects completed. The Hemby Program Center is located at 9760 Happy Valley Drive in Charlotte. It is a 21-acre site housing a Preschool, Afterschool Program and Eagle Rock Day Camp.

Looking for potential Eagle Service Projects? Check out this brand new one to help senior citizens and persons with disabilities, read more at “Around the Campfire”

Don’t know who is who on the Apache District Committee?

We have updated our District Committee website. You will also find several vacancies. Interested in helping? Contact our District Chairman, Dr. Stuart Tucker. Click here to view committee and openings.

World Scout Jamboree

Southern Region has 75 Scouts signed up. There is no maximum limit on the number of Scouts that can attend. Recruitment of youth is a high priority. There are also opportunities for youth and adults to attend as staff, officially, IST (International Service Team).

Limited BSA Scholarships may be available. For past World Jamborees, Scouts have helped to earn their own way with jobs at summer camp, fundraisers like pancake or spaghetti suppers, or sometimes grants from service clubs like the Lions Club, Rotary, Kiwanis, or Knights of Columbus.

USA troops will definitely be touring some in Japan, either before or after the Jamboree. The tour time will be 2 – 2.5 days. The tour agenda is pending. All tour sites will be youth friendly. Flights will be into Narita. Troops will take a bullet train from Tokyo to Kirara-hama, Yamaguchi City to get to the Jamboree.

Individual troop patches will be allowed this time, a change from 2011.

The BSA Southern Region is working to have a strong representation at the 23rd World Scout Jamboree (WSJ) in 2015. Early planning and preparation will be important for Scouts, families, and leaders to achieving that goal.

The recruitment of BSA youth participants has begun in earnest. All youth must be 14 to 17 years old. Youth birthdays must fall between July 27, 1997 and July 28, 2001 to be eligible. Boy Scouts and Venturers (male and female) may attend.

The cost for unit participants is $5,750. This includes airfare, duffel bag, day pack, and jamboree fees. The airfare is from the home airport of the participant.

If you know of Scouts or Venturers who might be interested in learning more about a WSJ or attending the WSJ, please ask parents or leaders to check out the websites and/or contact Stuart Tucker, adult volunteer from Charlotte, by email at stutucker@aol.com

BSA NATIONAL NEWS:

New Cooking Merit Badge Requirement Changes

Scouts beginning work on the Cooking merit badge on or after January 1, 2015 must use the new requirements introduced in late 2013. Any Scout who began work on the Cooking merit badge prior to January 1 using the old requirements may continue to use those requirements until he finishes the badge. For questions, see Guide to Advancement, topic 7.0.4.3, “What To Do When Requirements Change.” For more information contact Joel Moser at joelmoser@earthlink.net

The Cub Scout Angle New Adventure Program Implementation: Webelos Leaders, Start Planning Now

The biggest changes to Cub Scouting in a generation are scheduled to take place in June 2015. Although there will be changes in the way advancement is organized to simplify the program for leaders, the focus for boys will still be on fun, adventure, and learning by doing. For details, see www.scouting.org/programupdates.

For most dens, the change will be simple—boys begin using a new handbook as they move to the next rank. For dens currently in their first year of the Webelos Scout program, however, there will be options as the boys move into the second year of the program.

Option 1. Boys who earn their Webelos rank by June 1, 2015 may continue using the current handbook and complete the Arrow of Light requirements as stated there. However, they must finish all requirements for the Arrow of Light by June 1, 2016. For elective activities beyond the Arrow of Light requirements, boys may choose to work on additional activity badges—or, after June 1, 2015, some of the new adventure pins. The new requirements are posted at www.scouting.org/programupdates.

Option 2. Beginning June 1, 2015, boys may begin using the new Webelos Handbook with new Arrow of Light requirements. The new requirements call for boys to complete four specific “adventures” (Building a Better World, Camper, Faith in Action, and Scouting Adventure) plus three additional adventures of their choice. For the transition year only, current Webelos activity badges earned beyond the three counted for the Webelos rank (Fitness, Citizen, and one more) may substitute for the “three additional” adventure pins.

MECKLENBURG COUNTY COUNCIL NEWS:

New Camp Card Fundraising Opportunity

Have a representative from your unit attend our Camp Card kickoff meeting on Wednesday, February 25th – 6:30pm at the Scout Office. This is a great way for your boys to earn money to go to camp. The discount cards sale for $5 each. Everybody likes to save money and it teaches your youth salesmanship! Units will qualify for 50% commission on sales if the guidelines are followed and Scouts can earn scholarship dollars to go to camp this summer. Each unit wanting to participate should submit a camp card commitment form to john.crapster@scouting.org letting him know how many cards you are wanting in sell. The camp cards will be ready for pickup at our kickoff. For more information go to www.mccscouting.org; then click Funding; Camp Card

100 Years. A Century

In 2015, the Mecklenburg County Council will celebrate 100 years of scouting!In recognition of our 100th Anniversary, we are providing a once in a lifetime program that we wish EVERYScout and Scouter in Mecklenburg County Council to take part.We have a special “Star” pocket patch which can be completed by adding activity rockers by participating in Council and District events and activities.Our 100th Anniversary celebration will highlight programs, events, camping, community service, leadership, and training that we offer throughout the year. Deadline to get your patches for $3 each is January 10, 2015. On January 11, 2015, the price goes to $5 plus tax. Order your units’ patches NOW. Click here for more information.

This special year began with the Good Scout Breakfast (December 4, 2014) - and it will end with a special birthday recognition in November 2015. The original Mecklenburg County Council Charter was granted on November 20, 1915.

The celebration will highlight our community service, leadership and training Scouting offers throughout the year.

Special historical "DID YOU KNOW" facts will be distributed at our monthly district Roundtables which will be incorporated into the weekly unit meetings to help remind each Scout of this historical year.

The Steering Committee has adopted special new logos for 2015. You will see a 100th Anniversary 'star' patch which we hope EVERY Scout and Scouter will have, one which will be completed by adding activity rockers through Scouting events and activities throughout the year. Additionally, we have coordinated the Friends of Scouting campaign to highlight this anniversary year.

Unit leaders, please make an effort to participate in Scout Sunday. The date is Sunday, February 8th. This is a great opportunity to show your reverence. Wear your Class “A” uniform and thank your charter organization for having Scouting.

DISTRICT ITEMS:

New Recharter Change to March

Apache District is encouraging all units move to a March recharter cycle. Rechartering a January unit is still due in the Scout Office prior to the end of January. You will just need to pay for 14 months registration and Boys’ Life. Then moving forward your unit should always charter in March. Cost for your Scouts and Leaders will be $28 for registration and $14 for Boys’ Life. Make sure your unit leadership goes on-line and takes care of updating things for the charter. The charter fee is $40 for the unit. The accidental and sickness insurance is still $1 per participant. Once the on-line portion is complete, an approval from your organization’s executive officer must sign the charter agreement and the on-line charter paperwork. If you have questions, your Unit Commissioner will be a great resource.

ADVANCEMENT

Where To Go Advancing

There is now a new webpage available to all Scouts and Scout leaders identifying opportunities where certain merit badges are offered. It is called “Where To Go Advancing”. It is located on the council website under the Council Program tab, Advancement pull-down menu. It identifies where and how to contact organizations and merit badge counselors for certain merit badges identified there. Check it out.
The webpage is sponsored by the Council Advancement Committee. Contact George “Jose” Meier at gmeier2@att.net for further information.

Key Apache District Dates:

Adult Leader Roundtables

All adult leaders should attend Roundtable at Providence United Methodist Church starting at 7:30pm on the following dates:February 12, March 12, April 9 and May 14.Contact Al Nedrich, our District Roundtable Commissioner, if you have any questions or have an agenda item at al@nedrich.com.

Apache District Spring Cuboree

The Apache District Spring Cuboree will be held at Camp Grimes, the weekend of April 17-19.This Spring’s theme will be:All About That Bass!Fun with Music! For further details visit the Apache Spring Cuboree page for flyer and registration information.

Apache District Day Camp

Day Camp offers Cub Scouts and Webelos the opportunity to experience exciting camp activities including swimming, boating, crafts, hiking, fishing, archery and so much more!

Please mark your calendars! Camp is scheduled for June 22-26, 2015. Check the website for more information in January 2015.

Please contact Monica Zeleznik, Day Camp director at apache.daycamp@gmail.com if you are interested in volunteering at one of the program stations or if you have any questions at all.

The Apache Chapter is in the middle of Troop OA elections. If your Troop has not signed up, please contact Chapter Advisor - Al Nedrich @ al@nedrich.com for scheduling options. The Chapter would like to complete all elections prior to the Apache Call-Out on Friday, March 27 @ Belk Scout Camp.

New Dixie Fellowship

Dixie is right around the corner! As hopefully you know by now, Catawba Lodge is hosting and we need YOUR help! Please, if you have not yet signed up for a committee, go to the following link: http://goo.gl/6pGKVD
And sign up for a committee! (We need the most help in food service currently)
Also, please ask to join the following Facebook page:

2015 Dixie Fellowship Staff
To receive updates about Dixie and being on staff!
Thanks and if you have any questions, please contact Nick Zanzot, 2015 Service Lodge Coordinator at nick.zanzot@catawba459.org

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